Lindsey Ellis
Sarah Tucker
Kaidi Yang
Nutraceuticals: Sources, Delivery & Function
Introduction
A. General Purpose/Uses of Nutraceuticals
· Ref A: "Nutraceutical." Merriam-Webster. 2014. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nutraceutical>
o A foodstuff that provides additional health benefits beyond its nutritional value
o Can be treated food, vitamin, mineral, or even herb
· Ref B: Hayden, T. (2007, November 4). Getting To Know Nutraceuticals. Scientific American, 17, 38-44. Retrieved January 31, 2014
o Dietary supplements are a big largely unregulated business in the U.S.
o In 2006, Americans spent $22.5 billion
o 60% of Americans take at least a daily multivitamin
o Range from unknown active ingredients to well chemically characterized compounds with unknown mode of action
· Ref C: Moloughney, S. (2013, January 1). Top 10 Trends for 2013. Nutraceuticals World. Retrieved January 31, 2014
o U.S. dietary supplement sales are predicted to reach $15.5 billion by 2017
o Treated food sales to reach $149 billion by 2018
· Ref D: Moloughney, S. (2014, January 2). Top 10 Trends for 2014. Nutraceuticals World. Retrieved January 31, 2014
o “Natural” not defined by FDA
o Supplements adulterated for economic purposes
· Ref E: Consumer Reports Investigates Vitamin and Supplement Dangers. N.p., 2 Aug. 2012. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. <http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2012-08-02/consumer-reports-investigates-vitamin-and-supplement-dangers/>
o 6,300+ reports of 10,300+ serious outcomes to FDA
o 115 deaths and more than 2,100 hospitalizations
B. General Types of Nutraceuticals
· Ref F: Melatonin. Immune Health Science. Accessed 2/3/2014. <http://www.immunehealthscience.com/melatonin.html>
o Antioxidants remove free radicals produced by oxidative stress
o Melatonin is potent antioxidant
o Crosses cell membranes, blood-brain-barrier, and stimulates other antioxidants
o Protects DNA in nuclei and mitochondria by removing free radicals
· Ref G: “Vitamin”. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved January 31, 2014, from <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vitamin>
o Organic substance essential in minute quantities to the nutrition of plants and animals
· Ref H: Listing of Vitamins. Harvard Health Publications. Retrieved February 3,2014, from <http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Listing_of_vitamins.htm>
o Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) used to make connective tissue and neurotransmitters
o Possibly reduce risk of cancers and cataracts
· Ref I: “Omega-3 Fatty Acids. (June 24, 2013).” University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved February 3, 2014 from <http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/omega3-fatty-acids>
o Fatty acids: necessary nutrients the body cannot produce
o Omega-3 found in fish, or can be taken as a supplement
o Important for cognitive function
o Lower risk of arthritis, heart disease, and cancer
· Ref J: National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2014, from <http://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/Dietary_Reference_Intakes.aspx>
o Dietary Reference Intake (DRI): set of a reference values used to plan and asses nutrient intakes of healthy people
o Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): avg. intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all healthy people
o Adequate Intake (AI): established when insufficient evidence for RDA and set at a level assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy as decided by NIH
o Upper Limit (UL): the maximum tolerable intake level unlikely to cause adverse health effects
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References
1
Lindsey Ellis
Sarah Tucker
Kaidi Yang
Nutraceuticals: Sources, Delivery & Function
Introduction
A. General Purpose/Uses of Nutraceuticals
Nutraceuticals are foods and foodstuffs that provide health benefits beyond their nutritional value[i]. These foodstuffs include, but are not limited to: treated foods, vitamins, minerals, and herbs.1 With 60% of Americans consuming at least a multivitamin each day, the nutraceutical industry is booming and is predicted to continue its upward climb in coming years.[ii] In 2006, Americans spent $22.5 billion on nutraceuticals.2 It is estimated that spending will reach an all-time high of $149 billion in 2018.[iii] Even though the nutraceutical business is booming, it is largely unregulated by the FDA and other foreign regulatory agencies.[iv] Many of the supplements that Americans and other world citizens consume, for additional health benefits, contain unknown active ingredients or compounds with an unknown mode of action.2 These supplements do not always provide the health benefits claimed by the economically motivated companies, they can even cause harm to their consumers.4 Reports describing an excess of 10,300 serious outcomes from the consumption of nutraceuticals, including 115 deaths and more than 2,100 hospitalizations have streamed in to the FDA.[v] Despite the many serious reports, the economic motivation for companies to continue the adulteration of their products is strong and the quality of many nutraceuticals continues to be an issue around the world.
B. General Types of Nutraceuticals
Each nutraceutical has a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Adequate Intake (AI), and Upper Limit (UL) associated with it. The RDA is the average intake of nutrients sufficient to meet the requirements of 90% of healthy people.6 The AI is set at a level assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy and is established when there is not enough evidence for an RDA.6 The UL is the maximum tolerable intake level unlikely to cause adverse health effects.6 The RDA, AI, and UL are decided based on Dietary Reference Intake (DRI), or a set of reference values used to assess the nutrient intake of healthy people.[vi] Three major categories of nutraceuticals exist: antioxidants, vitamins, and fatty acids. Antioxidants inhibit oxidative reactions and reactions carried out by free radicals in the body.[vii] Melatonin is an example of a powerful antioxidant. 7 Melatonin can cross cell membranes and the blood-brain-barrier to remove free radicals inside cells and neurons.7 The removal of the free radicals protects DNA found in the nucleus and mitochondria of the cells, which allows cells to proliferate longer without accruing damage.7 Next, vitamins are organic substances that are essential in minute quantities to the nutrition of plants and animals.[viii] Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, can be found in citrus fruits.9 Vitamin C is essential to the production of the connective tissue collagen and possibly reduces the risk of cataracts and certain cancers.[ix] Finally, fatty acids are necessary nutrients that the body cannot produce and must be consumed on a regular basis.[x] Omega-3, which can be found in seafood, is important for cognitive function and, when consumed, lowers the risk of arthritis, heart disease, and cancer.10
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References
1
[i] "Nutraceutical." Merriam-Webster. 2014. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ nutraceutical> accessed 31 Jan. 2014.
[ii] Hayden, T. Getting To Know Nutraceuticals. Scientific American 2004, 17, 38-44.
[iii] Moloughney, S. (2013, January 1). Top 10 Trends for 2013. Nutraceuticals World. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
[iv] Moloughney, S. (2014, January 2). Top 10 Trends for 2014. Nutraceuticals World. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
[v] Consumer Reports Investigates Vitamin and Supplement Dangers. 2 Aug. 2012. Web. <http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2012-08-02/consumer-reports-investigates-vitamin-and-supplement-dangers/> accessed 4 Feb. 2014.
[vi] National Institutes of Health. Retrieved January 31, 2014, from <http://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/Dietary_Reference_Intakes.aspx>
[vii] Melatonin. Immune Health Science. <http://www.immunehealthscience.com/melatonin.html> accessed 2/3/2014.
[viii] “Vitamin”. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved January 31, 2014, from <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vitamin>
[ix] Listing of Vitamins. Harvard Health Publications. Retrieved February 3,2014, from <http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Listing_of_vitamins.htm>
[x] “Omega-3 Fatty Acids. (June 24, 2013).” University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved February 3, 2014 from <http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/omega3-fatty-acids>